1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,

2 Is it possible for a man to be of profit to God? No, for a man's wisdom is only of profit to himself.

3 Is it of any interest to the Ruler of all that you are upright? or is it of use to him that your ways are without sin?

4 Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?

5 Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.

6 For you have taken your brother's goods when he was not in your debt, and have taken away the clothing of those who have need of it.

7 You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread.

8 For it was the man with power who had the land, and the man with an honoured name who was living in it.

9 You have sent widows away without hearing their cause, and you have taken away the support of the child who has no father.

10 For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.

11 Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.

12 Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!

13 And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?

14 Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.

15 Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?

16 Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:

17 Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?

18 Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me!

19 The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,

20 Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.

21 Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.

22 Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.

23 If you come back to the Ruler of all, making yourself low before him; if you put evil far away from your tents;

24 And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;

25 Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;

26 For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.

27 You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.

28 Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.

29 For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.

30 He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.

1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

2 Can a man be profitable unto God?

Surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself.

3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous?

Or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?

4 Is it for thy fear of him that he reproveth thee,

That he entereth with thee into judgment?

5 Is not thy wickedness great?

Neither is there any end to thine iniquities.

6 For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought,

And stripped the naked of their clothing.

7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink,

And thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth;

And the honorable man, he dwelt in it.

9 Thou hast sent widows away empty,

And the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10 Therefore snares are round about thee,

And sudden fear troubleth thee,

11 Or darkness, so that thou canst not see,

And abundance of waters cover thee.

12 Is not God in the height of heaven?

And behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

13 And thou sayest, What doth God know?

Can he judge through the thick darkness?

14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he seeth not;

And he walketh on the vault of heaven.

15 Wilt thou keep the old way

Which wicked men have trodden?

16 Who were snatched away before their time,

Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,

17 Who said unto God, Depart from us;

And, What can the Almighty do for us?

18 Yet he filled their houses with good things:

But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

19 The righteous see it, and are glad;

And the innocent laugh them to scorn,

20 Saying, Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off,

And the remnant of them the fire hath consumed.

21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace:

Thereby good shall come unto thee.

22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth,

And lay up his words in thy heart.

23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up,

If thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents.

24 And lay thou thy treasure in the dust,

And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;

25 And the Almighty will be thy treasure,

And precious silver unto thee.

26 For then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty,

And shalt lift up thy face unto God.

27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he will hear thee;

And thou shalt pay thy vows.

28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee;

And light shall shine upon thy ways.

29 When they cast thee down, thou shalt say, There is lifting up;

And the humble person he will save.

30 He will deliver even him that is not innocent:

Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.